Help planning family trip with multiple cities

Fly into Venice and out of Rome. Flights depart Venice very early and it I can be difficult getting to the airport. We had the additional problem of an extra low tide which caused problems for our water taxi.

Suki has given you the best logistical advice, I think. But there's the economic side of things to consider as well. I'd check fares into and out of Milan also. From my origin, Milan and Rome are often substantially cheaper than Venice or Pisa (for Tuscany). It may be different for you.

No one on this forum--including me--likes to backtrack, but the train trip between Venice and Rome takes less than 4 hours. It may turn out that Rome is a much cheaper airport for you than any other Italian options. At some level of fare difference, I'd consider flying RT to Rome; in that case, I'd make Rome itself the last stop so you don't have to worry about rushing back there at the very end of the trip to catch a plane home.

Thanks for the replies so far! We will be getting mileage tickets so the prices of different cities shouldn’t really be a factor.

With that in mind, and trying not to backtrack too much, which order of places should we go to? I can see where flying into Venice and out of Rome makes sense. Also we would rent a car for the Dolomites and for Tuscany. It doesn’t have to be the same rental if it makes more sense to use trains to get from one place to the other more efficiently.

Thank you again!

At that time of year, I don't think anything really matters other than not flying out of Venice for the reason Suki mentioned.
As another said, if you fly round-trip to one city, you can usually still leave that city on arrival day and save it for last. So, knowing mileage tickets can be somewhat limited, it is best to just see what your options are for now, and in the meantime mull over how long you wish to be in each place.
If it was desired, I'd spend time in Florence first without the car, then pick one up and drive around rural Tuscany, then use the car for the Dolomiti and drop it before Venice. Also look at car pick up points once you have the Tuscany part fleshed out--you don't necessarily have to pick it up in Florence or at the airport.

Another option is to base out of Florence which is one of our favorite cities in all of Europe - and do day trips into Tuscany with a company like WalkAboutFlorence. We loved that as we didn't have to deal with a car. We loved their Best of Tuscany tour and their Food Safari tour. We usually fly into Venice and out of Rome when we go to Italy.

The 'kids'... 3 and 5 year olds or 15-17? or ?

The ages will make a difference on the logistics to some degree.

I agree with into Venice, out of Rome. If it's your first stop, then I'd do 3 - 4 nights in Venice - you'll have jet lag, and Venice is best early in the morning or later at night due to crowds (although next year who knows if the normally huge daytime tour crowds will be less, more, same).

Then you want a week in the Dolomites. So you are at 10 nights total.

Tuscany - another 6? That's 16.

Leaving a max of 4 for Rome, which is ok. Rome is NOT a city to try to rush through, I wouldn't go less than 3-4 unless you are really selective on what you go to. I say it's not a city to rush through because it can get intense and crowded and a lot of the sights require time to/from. Also, much of its charm is in wandering, piazzas, gelato, corner cafes...all the stuff you miss if you are running from the Vatican to the Forum to the Colosseum and not stopping to enjoy the atmosphere.

You could reverse it - into Rome, out of Venice. Getting to the airport early is tough, but not all flights are early. Twice I've done Venice - US (Philadelphia or Chicago) direct, on flights leaving around noon.

Milan is also an option either coming or going and had at least some direct options.

Thanks again all for the advice. Kids will be between 15-10.

Suggested order
Venice
Dolomites
Tuscany
Rome

Same rental car Dolomites and Tuscany.
We were drove from Ortisei in the Dolomites to Chianti region of Tuscany but broke the trip with overnights on Lake Garda at Malsecine and Bologna( really wanted to stay in Bologna. which we enjoyed.) one night on Lake Garda and two in Bologna.

Suki has the right combination IMHO. however, I would head towards and stay 1-2 nights in Verona (beautiful smaller city than Bologna) then down to Modena- Bologna on the autoroute and then on to Florence. I would leave the car at the airport in Florence and take the bus into the city , as ZLT zones are everywhere and will cost you a lot if you enter them. Once you have toured Florence pick up the car again and head out into the country side. Please pick up a Michelin Map of Italy it is great and certainly a back up to a GPS that sometimes will go wonky. Tour down to Orvieto and leave the car there and take the train into Rome. We drove into Rome a few years ago coming back from Sorrento. What a boondoggle - the drop off was at Termini so not the best traffic wise getting to.

I agree with Suki’s routing. Start in Venice, then pick up a car when leaving for time in the Dolomites and Tuscany. If you want to spend a day or two in Florence I would do that last, dropping the car at the airport. In Tuscany I suggest you consider staying at an agriturismo with a pool. It will be very hot in July and August and your kids may be happier with a cool place to chill after a day of sightseeing. You could stay there the entire time in Tuscany and take the train for a day trip or two to Florence. You definitely do not want to drive in Florence and everywhere you go beware of the ZTL’s. If you are staying in Florence you can take the train to Rome. If staying the entire time at an agriturismo you can drive to Orvieto and take the train to Rome from there.

Once again, thank you to everyone who replied!

Yes we are planning to stay at an agristourismo in Tuscany. Will think about possibly doing a day trip to Florence. My husband and I have been there but not sure if it would be so interesting for the kids.

Is driving the best way to get between the Dolomites and Tuscany? I’m assuming so because we will need a car in both places...

I see no reason to drop the Dolomites car, take a train, then pick up another car for Tuscany. Different-location drop-off fees within Italy have never been noticeable to me. You could even keep it until just before Rome and drop at Rome airport.
Do take precautions when using car for stops when en route between different accommodations though--it is not without risk to leave luggage in the trunk.

Do you have to go in July/ August?
Perhaps you do because of school for your kids.
It will be stiflingly hot everywhere but up in the Dolomites.
I was in Rome, Florence and Lucca last September, and nearly expired with the heat and worse: the high humidity.
I've been to Italy many times, and have never ever experienced it so hot.
If you have to go then, make absolutely sure that anywhere you book has working AC.
If you book an agriturismo, make sure it has a pool!
I don't think a day trip to Florence in that heat would thrill your teens, unless they are into art and sculpture.
Florence is in a "bowl" between hills, and retains the heat.

Yes unfortunately we are tied to the kids’ school schedule so that is the only time we can go:)

I know it will be very hot everywhere except the Dolomites but we are just going to have to make the best of it. We actually did the Dolomites, Venice and Florence (for the day) last summer without kids. We are not big fans of the heat plus crowds so spent the most time in the Dolomites which we loved and then a few days in Venice which was also really nice but crowded. We much prefer beautiful scenery to crowded cities.

This time, keeping our kids in mind, we decided that our “cities” this trip would be Venice and Rome. We hope to find accommodation in both those places in less crowded areas.

As for Tuscany, hoping that we will be able to enjoy the scenery while avoiding huge crowds.

I would also suggest the order that Suki posted, Venice > Dolomites > Tuscany > Rome.

Depending on where you plan to visit in the Dolomites, a car may be needed. Do you have a particular town in mind? Be sure that each driver listed on the rental form has the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. A review of the ZTL areas and parking regulations would also be a good idea (hefty fines!).

Regarding transportation in Tuscany, a car will probably be needed if access to public transportation is not convenient. However if the owners of the Agriturismo have a shuttle or whatever for guests, you should be able to manage well by using public transit.

Three weeks is a good time frame and should provide enough time to tour at a relaxed pace.

Hopefully travel will be back to some semblance of normal by then!